News & Notes: Dec. 10

Volunteer sought for Plan Commission

New Berlin - Mayor Jack Chiovatero is seeking a qualified resident to serve on the New Berlin Plan Commission.

The commission uses zoning ordinances, the city's Comprehensive Master Plan, staff recommendations, public input and its individual and collective judgment to make decisions or recommendations on various planning applications such as rezonings, conditional-use permits and future planned-use developments.

The commission considers location and architectural design of any building open to the public, including additions and replacement construction. All land divisions, as well as subdivision developments and regulations, also come before the Plan Commission.

Terms are three years. The group meets the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

A full description of the powers and duties of the commission may be found on a portion of the city's website, http://ecode360.com/7768589#7768594.

Those interested in serving should possess technical experience, education, or background in architecture, engineering, planning, development, environment, real estate, economics, conservation, building, construction, land use law or related fields.

A resume and brief letter of intent should be sent to Melody Styba by email at mstyba@newberlin.org; by fax T (262) 780-4601; or postal mail to 3805 S. Casper Drive, New Berlin, WI 53151. More information is available at (262) 797-2441.

Youth Board holds first Winter Wear Drive

New Berlin - The New Berlin Youth Advisory Board is sponsoring its first Winter Wear Drive, seeking donations of hats, scarves, mittens and jackets.

Items should be placed under the "Giving Tree" at City Hall, 3805 S. Casper Drive. They will be distributed through the New Berlin food pantry.

The Youth Advisory Board consists of 16 New Berlin youths, ranging between seventh and 12th grade, who coordinate community events for other youths.

Eisenhower collecting electronics as fundraiser

New Berlin - Eisenhower High School's junior class is sponsoring a "Go Green for Prom" fundraiser through March 31.

New Berlin residents and businesses can help defray prom bus and post-prom costs and do something good for the environment by donating their old technology at the collection site at Eisenhower's main entrance. Drop-off times are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Residents already have opinions on Wilbur barriers

New Berlin - With the temporary traffic barricades barely up a week, residents of the Glen Park subdivision were already at a recentNew Berlin Common Council meeting giving their opinions.

A woman who lives at Cottonwood Road and Redwood Drive said a UPS truck and a school bus could not get through because of the barriers, her son was almost hit by a car when getting off the school bus, and a couple of cars almost crashed because of traffic that careens through the area.

The temporary barriers divert traffic off Wilbur Drive and onto Redwood and Cottonwood and some other area streets. The hope is that the barriers will reduce the amount of cut-through traffic heading to National Avenue through the Glen Park subdivision. The barriers create a more roundabout route that city officials hope will discourage shortcuts.

Another resident protested that officials don't know the actual cost of closing off Wilbur. While the council set aside $89,000 for possible permanent barriers, how much did the temporary ones cost and how much will it cost to hire a consultant to see if the temporary barriers are doing their job of reducing cut-through traffic, the resident asked. He challenged the council that if it knew the real cost, it would not have approved the temporary closure.

Some others, mostly Wilbur Drive residents pleaded with the council to give the barriers more time. Others said neighbors are now getting a taste of what Wilbur Drive residents have been putting up with for a decade. One said if the barriers don't work, Wilbur should be closed off completely.

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